The number of people keeping anemones in their aquariums in increasing with each year that goes by and although a number of anemones of very common in tanks with clownfish due to hosting, they are becoming increasingly popular in standard marine tanks and reef tanks too.
Depending on the specific tank setup, a long tentacle anemone can sometimes be a beginner friendly anemone but in most cases, they do tend to need their keeper to have some experience with keeping anemones previously.
This is one of the reasons that we see so many people reaching out and asking about their long tentacle anemone dying but in most cases this could have been avoided.
Thankfully though, provided you act quickly, the majority of people should be able to quickly and easily find and correct the issue in their aquarium that is causing their long tentacle anemone to die and in most cases, the anemone should be able to make a full recovery.
What Causes A Long Tentacle Anemone To Start Dying?
There are a number of different things that could potentially cause a long tentacle anemone to start dying but the most common issues are down to water quality, lighting and diet.
It’s important to remember that long tentacle anemones are very delicate creatures and they do not take well at all to any changes in their environment so even something as small as a temperature change of just 1 or 2 degrees can cause long tentacle anemones to start dying.
Assuming that you haven’t made any changes to your aquarium recently, the most likely reason that your long tentacle anemone is dying is down to one of the three issues mentioned above so let’s take a closer look at each one.
Low Quality Water.
One of the most common issues that we see long tentacle anemones dying from is down to water quality and in the vast majority of cases, it’s actually due to a lack of filtration in the aquarium.
A long tentacle anemone is a very delicate creature and as such, they are not able to tolerate poor water quality for long periods of time before it starts to take its toll and eventually leads to the anemone dying.
If your long tentacle anemone is dying, the first thing that you should check is your filtration system and make sure that it is working correctly and that your water quality is up to scratch.
If you are unsure of how to test your water quality, we recommend taking a sample of your water to your local fish store or contacting an aquarium maintenance company who will be able to test it for you and advise you accordingly.
A Lack Of Nutrients And Food.
Another very common reason that long tentacle anemones start dying is down to a lack of nutrients and food.
So many people new to keeping anemones in their tanks fail to realise that in most situations, you really do need to be doing your best to actually feed your long tentacle anemone.
Although some tank setups can be a self sustaining eco system with an internal food supply for your long tentacle anemone, this is very rare and most people will need to take the active feeding approach.
If your long tentacle anemone is not getting the nutrients that it needs, it will start to die and in most cases, the first sign that something is wrong is that the anemone will start to shrink.
Unsuitable Water Flow!
Another very common reason that long tentacle anemones start dying is down to unsuitable water flow in the aquarium.
Long tentacle anemones need a moderate amount of water flow in order to stay healthy and if the water flow in your tank is too strong, it can cause the anemone to become stressed which will eventually lead to it dying.
On the other hand, if the water flow in your tank is too weak, it can cause long tentacle anemones to start dying as they are not able to get the food and nutrients that they need to stay alive.
Sudden Change In Water Flow Parameters.
One of the most common issues that long tentacle anemones have is down to a sudden change in water flow parameters and this is one of the main reasons that long tentacle anemones die soon after being added to a new aquarium.
A long tentacle anemone will commonly have some slight issues when it is newly added to an aquarium or after a full water change. This is totally normal but if there are secondary problems with your long tentacle anemone then this can be enough to cause the anemone to start dying.
The Placement Of The Coral.
One of the most common problems that long tentacle anemones have is down to the placement of the coral in the aquarium and this is one of the main reasons that long tentacle anemones die soon after being added to a new aquarium.
The vast majority of long tentacle anemones need to be placed on a substrate that is not too soft as this can cause the anemone to start dying.
We recommend using a substrate that is made up of sand, coral rubble or live rock as this will provide a long tentacle anemone with the perfect place to attach itself too and should stop it from dying.
The Temperature Of The Water.
Another very common problem that long tentacle anemones have is down to the temperature of the water in the aquarium and this is one of the main reasons that long tentacle anemones die soon after being added to a new aquarium.
The vast majority of long tentacle anemones need to be kept in water that has a temperature between 72-82 degrees Fahrenheit and if the water in your aquarium is outside of this range, it can cause long tentacle anemones to start dying.
The Lighting In The Aquarium.
Another very common problem that long tentacle anemones have is down to the lighting in the aquarium and this is one of the main reasons that long tentacle anemones die soon after being added to a new aquarium.
The vast majority of long tentacle anemones need to be kept in aquariums that have a moderate amount of lighting and if the lighting in your aquarium is too strong, it can cause long tentacle anemones to start dying.
On the other hand, if the lighting in your aquarium is too weak, it can also cause long tentacle anemones to start dying as they are not able to get the food and nutrients that they need to stay alive.
The pH Of The Water.
Another very common problem that long tentacle anemones have is down to the pH of the water in the aquarium and this is one of the main reasons that long tentacle anemones die soon after being added to a new aquarium.
The vast majority of long tentacle anemones need to be kept in water that has a pH of 8.2 and if the water in your aquarium is outside of this range, it can cause long tentacle anemones to start dying.
Non-Reef Safe Tank Mates.
One of the most common problems that long tentacle anemones have is down to non-reef safe tank mates eating it. In some cases, even a slight nip from a tank mate can be enough to cause potential problems with your long tentacle anemone.
The vast majority of long tentacle anemones need to be kept in aquariums that do not have any fish that are known to eat anemones as this can cause long tentacle anemones to start dying.
Ammonia And Nitrate Levels.
Another very common problem that long tentacle anemones have is down to high levels of ammonia and nitrate in the water and this is one of the main reasons that long tentacle anemones die soon after being added to a new aquarium.
The vast majority of long tentacle anemones need to be kept in water that has very low levels of ammonia and nitrate and if the levels in your aquarium are too high, it can cause long tentacle anemones to start dying.
How Can I Save My Long Tentacle Anemone That Is Dying?
If you think that your long tentacle anemone is dying, there are a few things that you can do in order to try and save it.
The first thing that you need to do is check the placement of the coral. If the coral is not placed on a substrate that is not too soft, it can cause the long tentacle anemone to start dying. We recommend using a substrate that is made up of sand, coral rubble or live rock as this will provide a long tentacle anemone with the perfect place to attach itself too and should stop it from dying.
The second thing that you need to do is check the temperature of the water. If the water is too cold or too hot, it can cause long tentacle anemones to start dying. We recommend using a water heater in order to keep the water at a consistent temperature and this should stop long tentacle anemones from dying.
The third thing that you need to do is check the lighting in the aquarium. If the lighting is too strong, it can cause long tentacle anemones to start dying. We recommend using a light that is specifically designed for long tentacle anemones as this will provide them with the perfect amount of light and should stop them from dying.
The fourth thing that you need to do is check the pH of the water. If the pH of the water is not 8.2, it can cause long tentacle anemones to start dying. We recommend using a pH test kit in order to make sure that the pH of the water is correct and this should stop long tentacle anemones from dying.
The fifth thing that you need to do is check the levels of ammonia and nitrate in the water. If the levels of ammonia and nitrate are too high, it can cause long tentacle anemones to start dying. We recommend using a water test kit in order to make sure that the levels of ammonia and nitrate are correct and this should stop long tentacle anemones from dying.
The sixth and final thing that you need to do is check the tank mates. If there are any fish in the aquarium that are known to eat long tentacle anemones, it can cause long tentacle anemones to start dying. We recommend removing any fish that are known to eat long tentacle anemones from the aquarium and this should stop long tentacle anemones from dying.
By following the advice that we have given you in this article, you should be able to stop your long tentacle anemone from dying and keep it healthy for many years to come.
How Long Does It Take A Long Tentacle Anemone To Recover?
If you have followed the advice above and your long tentacle anemone is still not recovering, it is important to understand that long tentacle anemones can take a long time to recover. In some cases, it can take up to six months for a long tentacle anemone to fully recover.
As with most things, the sooner you notice any problems with your long tentacle anemone and start to act, the higher the chances of survival are for your long tentacle anemone to be able to make a speedy recovery without any long term problems!
Key Points To Note!
Here is a summary of the key problems that may cause your long tail anemone to start dying:-
- Low Quality Water.
- A Lack Of Nutrients And Food.
- Unsuitable Water Flow!
- Sudden Change In Water Flow Parameters.
- The Placement Of The Coral.
- Unsuitable Light.
- Non-Reef Safe Tank Mates.
- Water pH Levels.
- Ammonia And Nitrate Levels.
- Water Temperature.
Conclusion
If you long tentacle anemone is dying, there are a few things that you can do in order to try and save it. By following the advice above, you should be able to save your long tentacle anemone and keep it healthy for many years to come.
